9.28.2017

OCTAVIUS CATTO - BLACK HERO - Gets His Place in the Sun

This is my first blog after a life threatening illness sidelined me with a clot on my right lung - better known as a pulmonary embolism. I am happy to say that I am on the mend.

That said, my first post is about the history that was made in Philadelphia, PA with the installation of the statue of OCTAVIUS VALENTINE CATTO, a heroic figure that predates a great many of our contemporary heroes and sheroes of the 20th and 21st century.

Thousands of Proud Philadelphians gathered outside City Hall, Tuesday, September 26 to commemorate the sacrifice and heroism of Octavius Catto, as the first statue of an African American was erected on the grounds of Philadelphia's City Hall.

This is another First among so many Firsts that Black Philadelphians have so much to be proud of But that pride was not confined just to Black Philadelphians - Black people the world over received the news and rejoiced along with them. The moment of pride was likewise not confined to Black people - a large number of white Philadelphians, well as Latino, Asian and other nationalities, were also on hand to celebrate the unveiling. And while the rancor continues to roil over the repugnant personage of racist Rizzo, currently displayed on the steps of the Administration Building (15th and JFK), the establishment of Catto's statue on the grounds of City Hall is definitely a step in the right direction.

Thanks to Philadelphia Historians, Dr. Charles Blockson and Dr. Edward Robinson, Octavius Catto is not a stranger to many Black Philadelphians - especially those who received their education prior to the 80s.

Even more important is the fact that the great W.E.B. duBois wrote about Octavius Catto in his epoch making sociological analysis entitled "THE PHILADELPHIA NEGRO," which was penned in 1899, for University of Pennsylvania - in which he detailed the martyrdom of the great hero, and his importance and impact on Blacks (and white haters) during an era when he was working to ensure Black voting power in Philadelphia.

In in the interest of historical accuracy, I did screen shots of the passage and pasted it below for your edification (apologies for the issues with the layout - SMH)

FOUR REFERENCES TO OCTAVIUS CATTO IN W.E.B.duBOIS' Book, THE PHILADELPHIA NEGRO: PAGES 39-42; 95-7; 512 (INDEX) Show that duBois was definitely way ahead of the rest of us in the historical significance of this wonderful hero.

DELTAS etc and the Catto Lodge in Capes; the Odd Fellows and Moorish Science folks in Fezzes,

Muslims in skull caps, ministers in clerical collars, a good group of white folks of all stripes, all saints

and sinners and the Black reenactors, with their gun salutes and various other military groups. The police

who are trained to keep a respectful distance crossed the street to see the ceremony. The speeches were

excellent, epecially Bee Chapman, an educator at the National Archives; if I can get it, I'll send it along.

The wreaths laying ceremony at the base of the statue was conducted by military, primarily Civil War groups.

I had the honor as an Honorary Member of MOLLUS (Militray Order of the Loyal Legion of the US-membership

is decendants of Union Officers) to participate in laying of the wreath; Catto was also elected to an Honorary

Membership in MOLLUS.‎ Most important, members of the Catto family had come in from all over the nation,

and they were intelligent and extremely articulate.

When the statue was unveiled a hush fell over the crowd‎, so dramatic is the work. It was not lost on

us that an Irish man assassinated Catto, and an Irish councilman, now Mayor led the charge to bring

him back. This is all against the backdrop of the cultural issues with Confederate monuments and the

oversized staue of Mayor Frank Rizzo, who brutalized the Black community here, first as Police

Commisoner, then as Mayor which was erected five years after he died in the middle of a comeback

campaign, as a Republican, to challenge W Wilson Goode, our first Black mayor. There's a lot of hostility

to the work, where the defacement of the work has accelerated. I'm not in favor of smashing the statue

but it should be moved to a more appropriate place. And the policy question also loomed: how long should

we wait before errecting staues/monuments to city father's on public land? I'm in favor of 146 years, with

Catto as the benchmark. But, looking at the politicians and city father's at the event yesterday, I sincerely

doubt if this view will prevail.Philadelphia is public sculpture rich. Having the most of any city in the us

And other than the memorial to colored soldiers and sailers (1921), this our first staue to a Black man.

So, in the mist of these cultural wars and the 'recontextualizating' of Confererate moneuments, with the

Martin Luther King staue in Atlanta last month, and yesterday....it was farily good for Black culture.

Regretfully both men were cut down in their prime. Such is our cross to bear.

‎Stay strong......."(OliverFranklin)

Mayor Jim Kenney stated: : "This is a tremendous day for me personally and for the city of Philadelphia --

as I'm sure it is for all of you. It's a day I thought was never going to come.I am humbled to be your Mayor as we

honor and recognize a great American hero -- a great African-American citizen of Philadelphia -- Octavius V. Catto.

This memorial is the first of its kind to a Black American on public land in the city of Philadelphia.

"It's been a fifteen year journey to get us here today. It started with our first meeting at the Union League that Carol and Jim and Debbie Mahler - my current Deputy Mayor -- organized. After that there were countless other meetings, fundraisers, receptions, meetings with the Arts Selection Committee -- as well as the artist -- the great, great Branly Cadet -- and God-only knows how many phone calls over the years.

While many people have been involved in this project - too many for me to individually name and thank today -- I must recognize and thank Carol, Jim and Debbie - because without all of their hard work and dedication -- this memorial would never have been built. It's been a true labor of love.

While it's worth reflecting on the passage of those 15 years - during which time America elected our first African American president -- we must also reflect on the passage of the 146 years. Almost to the day on October 10, 1871 -- a young 32 year old Philadelphian was gunned down on South Street while urging other Black men to vote in the first federal election after enactment of the 15th Amendment -- guaranteeing them the right to vote.

A lot has happened during these 146 years -- a lot of good, but also a lot of not so good especially in terms of how some native-born minorities and newcomers were treated and continue to be treated in America.The American Experiment is a work in progress. Our greatest strength has always been our diversity. We have much more work to do in how we treat and view each other. Hopefully all of us can be inspired by the courage and determination of O. V. Catto -- who was willing to sacrifice his own life for liberty, for justice and equality for all Americans.

Octavius V. Catto is a true American hero - like many other unheralded, nameless Black American heroes - should be revered, honored and recognized. Their lives and accomplishments should be part of the daily curriculum in our schools -- not just during the shortest month of the year.

O. V. Catto's story is the story of a courageous, unsung, young American military hero -- who like countless other unknown and seldom recognized black Americans -- contributed so much to make America great.Today we recognize the greatness and the humanity of this great American hero - Octavius V. Catto.

A Major in the Army during the Civil War, an intellectual, an educator, athlete, civil rights activist who desegregated trolley cars in Philadelphia in the mid-1860s - and a good neighbor who walked the streets of our great city, Catto is a legendary American figure whose young life and tremendous accomplishments were cut short. But finally he is being honored and publicly recognized today for generations to see, admire and be inspired by -- right here on the Southwest Apron of City Hall.

My hope is that some day, every child in Philadelphia -- and America -- will know as much about Octavius V. Catto as they do about George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Martin Luther King.

I want to take a moment to recognize the family of O. V. Catto and thank them for traveling so far to join us today. The City of

Philadelphia welcomes you - and shares in your pride.

And to Branly Cadet - the truly amazing artist. I know your mother and wife -- and many of your family have joined us here today. They must be beaming with pride -- and rightly so. I am in awe of your talent - and humbled by your humanity and ability to capture the essence of O. V. Catto and what he represented for his time - as well as the inspiration he provides all of us today as we confront a mean-spirited ugliness and intolerance emanating from our nation's capital -- that seeks to divide rather than unite us as one nation.

I want to thank each and every one of you for coming today and for being good citizens of this great city - and for helping make Philadelphia the greatest, most welcoming and diverse city in the world. Thank you." -Statement byHon. Jim Kenney Mayor City of Philadelphia at the Dedication and Unveiling of the Octavius V. Catto Memorial, September 26, 2017Southwest Apron of City Hall Philadelphia, PA

Branly Cadet, the sculptor who was commissioned todo the Octavius Catto statue has a remarkable body of work to his credit.

Sculptor Branly Cadet

Branly Cadet began studying sculpture at Cornell University. After graduating, he continued his studies in figurative art at the New York Academy of Art, The Arts Students League, and in France at the Vaugel Sculpture Studio and L'Ecole Albert Defois. He, soon after, won the prestigious James Wilbur Johnston National Figure Sculpture Competition and began teaching sculpture.Born in New York City, he is a descendant of Haitian metal artist Georges Liautaud, whose exploration of iconography has influenced Cadet's own work. Branly now divides his time between his residence in Oakland, California and New York City, where, along with creating his own art, he accepts small and large scale sculpture commissions. http://www.branlycadet.com/index.php

Octavius Valentine Catto Statue Unveiled

From The Ramparts by Junious Ricardo Stanton

Most Philadelphians are completely unaware of the significance of Octavius Valentine Catto in the history of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the nation. Catto like so many people of African descent in the US was deliberately excluded from the history books and historiography of this city, state and nation.

Octavius Valentine Catto was born in Charleston South Carolina on February 22, 1839 to a free born Black mother Sarah Isabella Cain and William Catto an enslaved Black man who was a millwright by training. William Catto purchased his own freedom and due to his devotion as a Sunday School teacher was recruited to become one of the few Black ordained and licensed Presbyterian Ministers. He was originally groomed to be a missionary to Liberia, the US "colony" established in Africa by the American Colonization Society in 1821. (Do some research on the American Colonization Society, you will be surprised by what you find, who some of their most prominent members were and their plans goals for free people of African descent in the US.)

The elder Catto was sent to Baltimore in preparation for departure to Liberia but the discovery of a letter he wrote caused the Presbyterian leadership to rethink the motives and loyalty of Catto. He was forced to flee and take his family to Philadelphia were he reacquainted with several men he knew in Charleston. Catto became an itinerant preacher alternating between the Presbyterian and the AME Church serving as pastor for several churches in the Northeast US.

Reverend Catto sent his son Octavius to the best schools available that would admit blacks. Young Catto excelled in school and eventually made a name for himself as an honor student, orator, intellectual, educator, baseball player and activist.

During the US War Between the States, Catto advocated for Blacks being allowed to enlist. He and several of his friends travelled to Harrisburg determined to enlist in the Union Army but they were turned down after being encouraged to petition for enlistment by several white Philadelphians.

Undaunted Octavius worked to support the Union effort by raising over eleven regiments of "Colored Troops" to fight. It was Blacks like Catto, Frederick Douglas, Henry Highland Garnett and Martin R. Delany who used the war as an opportunity to press for freedom, equality and later enfranchisement.

In addition to raising troops Octavius took on additional challenges to the existing socio-political order. Octavius became the first president of the Institute For Colored Youth (the forerunner of Cheyney University) alumni association. He was a teacher and principal there. ICY graduates sent more of its graduates to teach the enslaved and newly freed Blacks during and after the war than any other organization or institution. Catto and his Black friends actually wrote and lobbied for passage of the legislation that eventually desegregated the street car lines in Pennsylvania.

Catto was an active member of the historic St Thomas African Episcopal Church founded by Absalom Jones in 1792 in Philadelphia the first African-American Episcopal church in the US. Like Catto many prominent Black Philadelphians were members of St Thomas which from its beginnings was a hub of social uplift, community activism and an ardent supporter of the Underground Railroad during slavery.

Catto also pressed for the right to vote. Black males were stripped of the right vote in Pennsylvania in 1848 and regaining the ballot was one of the goals Catto and his socially conscious agitator/activist colleagues sought to achieve.

During a heated mayoral contest in 1871 Catto was murdered in cold blood in broad daylight by Frank Kelly one of many Irish ruffians and thugs who bedeviled and assaulted Blacks in Philadelphia. Assaults and mob riots against Blacks had been going on for decades. Kelly was apprehended but somehow escaped and fled the city. He was captured five years later, brought to trial in Philadelphia but acquitted of Catto's murder!

Most of Catto's exploits and accomplishments have been deliberately left out of history books. But now this travesty is being rectified. Recently there have been scholarly articles and books written about Catto and now a statue in his honor has been commissioned, sculpted, erected, unveiled and placed on the Southwest apron of Philadelphia's City Hall. This statue will be the first statue ever erected of an African American on municipal property!

On Sunday September 24th the African Episcopal Church of St Thomas held a special service honoring Octavius V. Catto, part of their two hundred twenty-fifth anniversary. One of the special guest speakers was Mayor James Kenney. The celebration at St Thomas marked the beginning of several days of activity to promote the unveiling of Catto's statue. The Mayor explained how and why he because fascinated about Octavius Catto and why he initiated the drive to recognize him with a permanent statue when Kenney was a councilman. It's been a long time coming, it took almost fifteen years to raise the funds and secure a sculptor to complete the project. Octavius Valentine Catto is finally getting his just due."

Philadelphians have a lot to be proud of, and a lot more to learn about the rich heritage that exists here - the installation of Octavius Catto in a place of honor is the beginning of renewed discovery and awareness of those who have paved the way.